Ranunculus plant named ‘ABOSHOSSI’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Ranunculus  cultivar named ‘ABOSHOSSI’ is disclosed, characterized by a unique combination of colors in the corolla, including green and shades of red. The petals are deeply undulating. Vase life of the cut flower is exceptionally long. The new variety is a  Ranunculus , normally produced as a cut flower and potentially useful as an ornamental plant.

Latin name of the genus and species: Ranunculus asiaticus.

Variety denomination: ‘ABOSHOSSI’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new Ranunculus cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the inventor, Alberto Biancheri in Camporosso Mare, Italy. The cross resulting in this new variety was made during 2007.

The seed parent is the, unpatented, proprietary variety referred to as Ranunculus ‘PPRs158-05. The pollen parent is the unpatented, proprietary variety referred to as Ranunculus ‘AB5’. The new variety was discovered in 2010 by the inventor in a group of seedlings resulting from the 2008 crossing, in a research greenhouse in Camporosso Mare, Italy.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar was first performed by vegetative division of buds sprouting from the rhizome of the selected plant. Subsequent propagation has been performed by tissue culture. First propagation took place at a research greenhouse in Camporosso Mare, Italy in 2010 and has shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type in multiple successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘ABOSHOSSI’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘ABOSHOSSI’ These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘ABOSHOSSI’ as a new and distinct Ranunculus cultivar:

-   1. Unique combination of colors in the corolla, including green and     shades of red. -   2. Rounded shape of the corolla when it is fully open. -   3. Interesting texture to petals. -   4. Exceptionally long vase life.

PARENT COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘ABOSHOSSI’ are similar to plants of the seed parent, in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘ABOSHOSSI’ differ in the following;

-   -   1. Flowers of the new variety are Red 45B with a bright Yellow         6D and Yellow-Green 144A secondary color. Flowers of the seed         parent are Red-Purple N57A with a strong center coloration         Yellow-Green 144A.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘ABOSHOSSI’ are similar to plants of the pollen parent, in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘ABOSHOSSI’ differ in the following;

-   1. The new variety has a different flower color than the pollen     parent. Flowers of the new variety are Red 45B with a bright Yellow     6D and Yellow-Green 144A secondary color. Flowers of the pollen     parent are Orange 26B with a secondary coloration of Yellow-Green     154C. -   2. Flower shape of the new variety is uniquely rounded, with     festooned edges, the pollen parent flower shape is more flattened     and lacks the festooned edges of the new variety.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘ABOSHOSSI’ are comparable to the commercial variety Ranunculus ‘ABATLAUA’, filed concurrently having application Ser. No. 15/731,516. The two Ranunculus varieties are similar in most horticultural characteristics; however, the new variety ‘ABOSHOSSI’ differs in the following:

-   1. Combination of colors in the corolla; ‘ABOSHOSSI’ has a corolla     made up of shades of purple and green, corolla color of ‘ABATLAUA’     is shades of purple and green.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color flowering plants of the new variety at approximately five months old, grown in a greenhouse.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close up of plant parts.

The photographs were taken using conventional techniques and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart 6^(th) edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe ‘ABOSHOSSI’ plants grown in a greenhouse Camporosso Mare, Italy. The plant described has been cultivated under glass, planted in the months of September and described in the month of February. One must always refer to these conditions of season and culture, when considering the present description. By reason of different climate or culture conditions, differences may arise between certain characteristics of the plant and the corresponding characteristics of the description. It should be considered as normal and do not modify the essence of the present invention because it will possible to identify the plant by means of the totality of the characteristics given in the description. The rhizome has been planted on raised benches in a peat and pumice substrate mixture. The growing temperature ranged from 12° C. to 25° C. during the day and from 2° C. to 8° C. during the night. General light conditions are bright, normal sunlight. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Ranunculus asiaticus ‘ABOSHOSSI’. -   Propagation:     -   -   Time to rooting.—15 days at approximately 10-12° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted plantlet.—20 days.         -   Root description.—Secondary roots grow from the rhizome and             are fasciculate type. -   Plant:     -   -   Growth habit.—Herbaceous perennial, robust plant, semi-erect             vegetation.         -   Height to top flower.—50 to 55 cm.         -   Plant spread.—40 to 45 cm.         -   Growth rate.—Medium.         -   Branching characteristics.—Main floral stems grow from a             basal rosette with 1 or 2 lateral branches, each one of             which has a flower.         -   Length of lateral branches.—40 to 45 cm.         -   Diameter of lateral branches.—0.5 to 0.8 cm.         -   Texture of lateral branches.—Slightly tomentose.         -   Internode length.—Internodes are extremely close together             forming a basal rosette.         -   Strength of lateral branches.—Medium.         -   Color of lateral branches.—Strong Yellow Green (RHS 144B).         -   Angle of branches.—20° to 25°.         -   Number of leaves per lateral branch.—Usually 2. -   Foliage: The leaves, usually numerous, have a marked heterophyllia,     in relation to the degree of their development and their position on     the plant (base of the plant; floral stem).     -   -   Leaf at the base of the plant.—Arrangement: Simple (young             leaf, YL); Biternate (mature leaf, ML). Average Length: 25             to 32 cm. Average Width: 15 to 20 cm. Overall Shape of             blade: Obovate (young leaf); Palmatipartite (mature leaf).             Dissected leaves, describe lobes, quantity of dissection:             Young leaves are generally not lobed; mature leaves are             generally divided in 3 parts, each one of which is further             divided in more lobes. Apex: Rounded. Base: Rounded.             Attachment: Base of the plant. Margin: Dentate. Texture of             top surface: Slightly tomentose. Texture of bottom surface:             Slightly tomentose. Appearance of top surface: Glossy.             Appearance bottom surface: Very glossy. Leaf internode             length: The internodes are extremely close together, forming             a basal rosette. Color: Young foliage upper side: Moderate             Olive Green (RHS 137A). Young foliage under side: Moderate             Yellow Green (RHS 147C). Mature foliage upper side: Moderate             Olive Green (RHS 137A). Mature foliage under side: Moderate             Yellow Green (RHS 147C). Venation: Type: Dichotomous;             plunging in to the limb at the upper surface; raised on the             limb at the lower surface. Venation color upper side: Strong             Yellow Green (RHS 144B). Venation color under side: Strong             Yellow Green (RHS 144B). Petiole: Petiole: Long, tubular,             rigid. Length: 15 to 20 cm. Diameter: 0.3 to 0.5 cm.             Pubescence: Slightly tomentose. Color: Strong Yellow Green             (RHS 144B).         -   Leaf inserted at the nodes of the floral stems             (sl).—Arrangement: Biternate. Average Length: 15 to 22 cm.             Average Width: 8 to 16 cm. Overall Shape of blade:             Palmatipartite. Dissected leaves, describe lobes, quantity             of dissection: Generally divided in 3 parts, each one of             which is further divided in many deeply incised lobes. Apex:             Acute. Base: Acute. Attachment: Floral stems. Margin:             Dentate. Texture of top surface: Slightly tomentose. Texture             of bottom surface: Slightly tomentose. Appearance of top             surface: Glossy. Appearance bottom surface: Glossy. Leaf             internode length: 5 to 7 cm. Color: foliage upper side:             Greyish Olive Green (RHS NN137A). foliage under side:             Moderate Yellow Green (RHS 137C). Venation: Type:             Dichotomous, plunging in to the limb at the upper surface             and raised on the limb at the lower surface. Venation color             upper side: Strong Yellow Green (RHS 144B). Venation color             under side: Strong Yellow Green (RHS 144B). Petiole:             Petiole: Slightly flat, rigid. Length: 3 to 5 cm. Diameter:             0.4 to 0.7 cm. Pubescence: Slightly tomentose. Color: Strong             Yellow Green (RHS 144B). -   Flower:     -   -   Bloom period.—Winter to Spring.         -   Vase life (cut flower).—20-25 days.         -   Persistent or self-cleaning.—Self-Cleaning.         -   Bud.—Closed bud (CB): Shape: Flattened globular. Length: 0.6             to 0.8 cm. Diameter: 1.1 to 1.6 cm. Color: Strong Yellow             Green (RHS 143A). Slightly open bud (OB): Shape: Flattened             globular. Length: 1.2 to 1.4 cm. Diameter: 2.0 to 2.3 cm.             Color: Strong Yellow Green (RHS 144C); Strong Red (RHS 46A)             near the margins.         -   Flower size (of _(1.2)): Diameter: 8 to 11 cm. Height: 3 to             5 cm.         -   Corolla (of _(1.2)): Round, regular, in the form of a flat             section with slightly festooned edges.         -   Petals.—Arrangement: Imbricated, disposed on the receptacle             in very tight verticils. The size of the petals is quite             variable, according to the position in the corolla,             decreasing from the exterior toward the center. The average             size of fully developed petal is as follows: Lobe Length: 3             to 5 cm. Lobe Width: 2.0 to 2.5 cm. Quantity: Double flower,             petals are very numerous typically 150 to 200. Texture:             Silky, thin, resistant, slightly tomentose on the lower             surface. Lobe Apex: Flat to Slightly rounded. Lobe shape:             Triangular. Margin: Crenulate. Aspect: Deeply undulating.         -   Color when opening (cf).—Upper surface: Vivid Red (RHS 45B)             at the apical margin; Brilliant Yellow Green (RHS 150B) near             the base and the lateral margin; Strong Yellow Green (RHS             144A). Lower surface: Vivid Red (RHS 45B) near the apical             margin; Brilliant Yellow Green (RHS 150B) near the base and             the lateral margin; Strong Yellow Green (RHS 144A).         -   Color fully opened (of).—Upper surface (PU₁): Vivid Red (RHS             45B) near the apical margin; Brilliant Greenish Yellow (RHS             6D); Strong Yellow Green (RHS 144A) at the center. Lower             surface (PL₁): Vivid Red (RHS 45B) near the apical margin;             Brilliant Greenish Yellow (RHS 6D); Strong Yellow Green (RHS             144A) at the center.         -   Other cultural improvements or features.—In this variety,             the colors of the corolla could present a lack of Red tones             and an increase of Yellow and Green tones. This is already             noticeable in the flowers that are opening and is present in             those that are wide open (OF_(2;) PU_(2.) PL₂). This             variation of color, partially typical of this variety, is             accentuated in particular growing conditions, in relation to             light exposure, to the temperature and to the different             composition of fertilizers used by the various farms.         -   Calyx to sepals (s): Quantity per flower: 6 to 10. Shape:             Concave, incurved. Length: 2.5 to 2.9 cm. Width: 0.6 to             0.8 cm. Apex: Acute. Base: Flat. Margin: Entire. Texture:             Lower surface is tomentose; Upper surface is glabrous. Color             Upper Surface: Strong Yellow Green (RHS 144C). Color Lower             Surface: Moderate Yellow Green (RHS 137 C).         -   Peduncle.—None.         -   Pedicel.—Length: 35 to 45 cm. Diameter: 1.1 to 1.4 cm.             Color: Strong Yellow Green (RHS 144B). Orientation: Upright,             straight, rigid. Pubescence: Slightly tomentose.         -   Fragrance.—None. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Androecium.—Stamens: Almost completely transformed as             petals.         -   Gynoecium.—The pistils are numerous, short, locked together             at the center of the corolla in a Strong Yellow Green (RHS             144B) and Dark Purple (RHS N79B), dome-shaped apocarpous             gynoecium. -   Other characteristics:     -   -   Seeds and fruits.—Seeds and fruit production not observed.         -   Disease to pest resistance.—Neither resistance nor             susceptibility to normal diseases and pests of Ranunculus             has been observed.         -   Temperature tolerance.—Upper and lower temperature tolerance             not observed, plants have been grown in a climate controlled             greenhouse. Ranunculus asiaticus typically tolerates             temperatures within USDA Zones 7 to 11. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Ranunculus plant named ‘ABOSHOSSI’ as herein illustrated and described. 